Foreword

It’s celebration time this month as we mark the British driving test’s 75th anniversary.

Since a Mr J Beene took the first ever driving test in 1935, over 94 million tests have been conducted in Great Britain, playing a vital role in making the country’s roads a far safer place.

In the 1930s, there were only 1.5 million cars in the UK, but over 7,000 people a year were being killed on the roads; more than twice the present level - when traffic levels are 20 times higher.

To honour the test’s 75th anniversary, in this month’s Despatch we look at the history of the driving test, assessing the impact it’s had on road safety and its evolution over the years.

We also meet some long- serving ADIs who have plenty to say about their own experiences of the driving test.

The road safety industry can rightly be proud of the achievements of driver training and testing in this country since the first test in 1935, but the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has its eyes firmly on the future as we continue to implement the Learning to Drive (L2D) programme.

This month you will find information about some of the programme’s key policies: independent driving, observer on test and continuing professional development.

So happy reading! I hope you find the information useful, and as always, thank you for all the hard work that is being done across the country.

Rosemary Thew Chief Executive, Driving Standards Agency

Contents July 2010

4/ 75th anniversary - It’s celebration time as we mark the 75th anniversary of the British driving test.

6/ Pioneering Hilary is still going strong – In 1964, 17 year old Hilary Sandland became one of the country’s first female driving instructors.

8/ Get ready: independent driving – Preparations for the introduction of the new independent driving section of the driving test on 4 October.

9/ ADI Code of Practice – DSA has developed a draft for a new voluntary Code of Practice for ADIs.

13/ Live and learn: CPD – Getting qualified is only the start of the learning process, so find out how to keep your skills up to date.

14/ Observer on test etiquette – What to do and what not to do when observing your pupils on test.

17/ Point of view: Driver CPC – DSV Road’s Stephen Smith explains how Driver CPC can be a real positive for the driving profession.

18/ Peter gives the modern test ‘10 out of 10’ – Veteran ADI Peter Torre took his driving test in 1959…and again 50 years later.

2 Despatch Magazine www.dsa.gov.uk